Trades Hall, ACTU back the IEU’s fight for fairness

Victorian Trades Hall always has a close relationship with the IEU, but this year, on two fronts, that mutual support went to another level.

Trades Hall is right behind the anti-discrimination fight of non-binary IEU member Myka Sanders, and in September, hosted the first public event where they outlined their case.

In October and November, Trades Hall staff also literally added their voices to the campaign for fair bargaining in Victorian Catholic education, calling hundreds of IEU members to answer their questions and urge them to sign Statements of Support for the union’s Single Interest Authorisation (SIA) application.

On October 24, Trades Hall passed an official motion and publicised it.

It read: “The VTHC Executive condemns the union busting of the Victorian Catholic Education Authority and calls out the disgraceful actions of the Chair and former Labor Education Minister James Merlino for leading this attack on educators and the IEU.”

The solidarity and practical support of Lygon Street specialists was indispensable during the early stages of the campaign. Thank you Trades Hall!

ACTU support

ACTU Secretary Sally McManus says the IEU’s successful campaign for support from Victorian school staff to apply for an SIA is of great importance to the entire union movement.

McManus said the union movement’s push for crucial multi-employer bargaining reform was “on the precipice” three years ago, and she’d asked the IEU at the time to step up and lead the campaign.

“And you did! It’s wonderful to see what you’re doing now … the result has been unbelievable! And it comes down to one thing – your organising – something bosses can never do. It comes down to meetings and one-on-one conversations in workplaces … It’s just amazing what you’ve done. You continue to out-organise the bosses.

“The rest of the union movement is watching what you’re doing … It’s so inspiring …”

Sally said she was thrilled to see that the majority of staff in Catholic education could see through the spin and were prepared to stand up for their rights.

The unprecedented nature of the employers’ so-called offer and their efforts to undermine legitimate bargaining and sidestep the union underscore how much is at stake for the broader union movement in the IEU’s application.

Why an SIA matters to all unionists

• Enables the FWC to require like employers to bargain together – shifting from fragmented site-by-site talks to coordinated sector bargaining.

• Rebalances power across the table – stopping “divide and delay”

• Drives faster pay parity in feminised, multi-employer sectors – reduces undercutting and helps close gender pay gaps.

• Builds organising muscle – grassroots conversations boost union awareness, recruitment, sub-branch strength, and Rep networks.